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Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents: a comparative study
Aud‐Mari Sohini Fjelltun, Nils Oddbjørn Henriksen, Astrid Norberg, Fredricka Gilje, Hans Ketil Normann. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2009-09-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The aim of this study was twofold: to compare the functional levels of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents, and to compare their nurses' physical and psychological workloads. In Norway, the demand for nursing home placement has increased greatly. Elderly awaiting placement can receive care from home health care services and/or from their families. Documenting elderly's functional levels may illuminate the extent of the carers' workloads and the need for support during the waiting period. The study was conducted in 2005 on two groups in northern Norway. Using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale to assess functional levels, one group of nurses assessed elderly awaiting nursing home placement (n = 36) and another group of nurses assessed nursing home residents (n = 47). The nurses also reported physical and psychological workloads in caring for these elderly. A comparison of the functional levels between elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents showed few statistically significant differences. Nursing home residents had two lower motor functions, needed more assistance with activities of daily living, more regular administration of enemas, were more often unable to speak, and showed lower orientation levels. Clinically significant similarities were found in five motor functions, including rising from lying to sitting, rising out of bed and walking, and in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms. Both groups of elderly had a high prevalence of sadness and fearfulness. The results of this study indicate that elderly awaiting nursing home placement can be as frail as nursing home residents. These results highlight the elderly's need for assistance and reveal the need for more nursing home beds. Nurses in home health care and nursing homes rated physical and psychological workloads similarly. As many carers provide care 24 hours a day, these results also illuminate the need to support carers during the waiting period.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Fjelltun, A. S., Henriksen, N. O., Norberg, A., Gilje, F., & Normann, H. K. (2009). Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents: a comparative study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2008.00672.x
Vancouver
Fjelltun AS, Henriksen NO, Norberg A, Gilje F, Normann HK. Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents: a comparative study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2009. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6712.2008.00672.x. PMID: 19740113.
BibTeX
@article{fjelltun2009-19740113,
author = {Fjelltun, Aud‐Mari Sohini and Henriksen, Nils Oddbjørn and Norberg, Astrid and Gilje, Fredricka and Normann, Hans Ketil},
title = {{Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents: a comparative study}},
journal = {Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1111/j.1471-6712.2008.00672.x},
pmid = {19740113},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2008.00672.x}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- A comparison of the functional levels between elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents showed few statistically significant differences.
- Clinically significant similarities were found in five motor functions, including rising from lying to sitting, rising out of bed and walking, and in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms.
- The results of this study indicate that elderly awaiting nursing home placement can be as frail as nursing home residents.
- These results highlight the elderly's need for assistance and reveal the need for more nursing home beds.
- As many carers provide care 24 hours a day, these results also illuminate the need to support carers during the waiting period.
Why it matters
This Norwegian study found few statistically significant differences in functional levels between elderly people awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents. It indicates that those waiting for placement can be as frail as residents, which has implications for the support their carers need during the waiting period.
Study details
- Participants36
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences: journal h-index 108 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 36 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 25 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Hans Ketil Normann: h-index 15 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Umeå University: institution h-index 813 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19740113) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
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